About four years ago, in 2022, we ran a piece on one of the cleanest and well-executed teardrop campers I’ve ever seen: the SteelDrop. It’s a teardrop camper that, despite its very American roots, is built by a team over in Ukraine.
When we first encountered the SteelDrop back in 2022, I couldn’t believe my eyes; it’s not American-born, enticing me to dive deeper into the story of this rather under-the-radar camper and its obscure builders, and how glad was I that I did.
Exploring the SteelDrop, I was left in a bit of awe that somewhere in the hidden corners of our world, traditional and very retro camping options still exist, and while the SteelDrop is a camper from over in Ukraine and bound to be a hassle to bring over to the US, the methods and materials that go into the build are simple and inexpensive enough that you may be able to commission one locally in North America.
Photo: LifeStyle Camper
Now, the SteelDrop gets its name from nothing more than its outer layer or skin. As you’d expect, steel is used to cover the exterior of the camper, and not fiberglass or any other composite, and clearly not aluminum. The shine is granted by the use of stainless steel, a building block of the industry that we most-often see used in chassis construction and shell frames; some brands build their RVs around steel cages.
But isn’t steel heavy? Well, yes, but clearly, we’re not looking at the thickest sheets in the world, signaled by the way LifeStyle curves this material around the shape of the underlying frame.
Mind you, LifeStyle does create the standard SteelDrop as an unbraked trailer, and this means that its GVWR stands at 750 kg (1,653 lbs). In Europe, that’s the limit to towing a trailer without any special driver’s license classes or categories. In its lightest configuration, the trailer rolls in with a dry weight of just 450 kg (992 lbs), so quite a bit of wiggle room in terms of cargo capacity.
Photo: LifeStyle Camper
The use of stainless steel also means a camper that shines in the light from the first few moments of the day when the sun’s rays hit the side in the morning. Heck, you’re bound to also attract countless eyes and onlookers as you roll into a campsite, and you will need one; as a teardrop camper, amenities are limited and often, they are NOT equipped with showers or toilets.
Luckily, you can take the SteelDrop pretty far in terms of upgrades, and annexes are on the menu, side-mounted awnings, the possibility to add an outdoor shower, and even bring a portable toilet along; a shovel should do just fine.
Underneath that layer of steel, LifeStyle uses plywood to craft the shell, a building block of traditional and even modern teardrop campers. Couple this lightweight shell with the aerodynamics provided by the use of a teardrop camper shell, and we have ourselves a camper that may even be suitable for an EV.
Since retro looks and styling are part of the SteelDrop’s attractiveness, LifeStyle does continue to complete the entire habitat in the most traditional ways possible, and that clearly means a rear galley with a lifting hatch to allow for access to your goodies while keeping them free of dust and water, and an interior that is as simple as can be.
Photo: LifeStyle Camper
The kitchen is a bit different than others we find in teardrop campers, not in the sense that there are any different features that what we can expect, but the way they’re integrated into the space is what stands apart. Normally, we have slideouts for things like the fridge and cooktop, but LifeStyle chose to integrate everything into the lower half of the kitchen.
In doing so, the fridge stays hidden from sight with a lid that covers it to create a flush countertop, and so does the cooktop and faucet. However, the mounting edges of the systems do stick out a bit and you will need to use a cutting board to level it off for meal prep.
Dry foods will be stored in the cabinet system that’s in place, and at the upper edge of the area is a power bay in case you need some, not to mention a control panel for systems such as pumps, lights, and music.
The latter also tells us that there’s a battery, and depending on the model year and a few other factors, we have 90 Ah to work with and shore power too. The presence of the battery also tells us that we can tap into solar power, but you will need a controller to do so. An inverter is already in place in the SteelDrop.
Photo: LifeStyle Camper
Inside the SteelDrop, we have access to a modular mattress (optional) that also allows us to lounge around or sleep too, and we’re also granted access to ample storage for personal belongings. This camper can also include an internal Webasto heater, and we do have control over comfort systems and entertainment inside too.
Take all that, place yourself and your significant other in the middle of it all, and imagine what your mornings would be like with one of these babies parked on a beach somewhere. Just remember that you’ll either need to ship one of these to the US to get your hands on it or, just create your own. There’s sure to be some craftsmen and women in your town that can help you make such a dream a reality.
Back in 2022, when we first covered the SteelDrop, it was selling for around $10,000, but a lot can change in four to five years, and these days, they’re flying off the LifeStyle shelf for around $13,500 in its most standard makeup. This is a price that you receive directly from the production lines, and outside of Ukraine, these babies start at around $20K, or roughly €17,500.
With $20,000, you’re sure to be able to put together a pretty solid “SteelDrop” of your own, because shipping one of these to the US is bound to run you at least $25K, if it’s even cleared for use in NA (North America) by the DOT. Until next time.
